V. J. Sánchez-Morcillo

Theoretical prediction of the nondiffractive propagation of sonic waves through periodic acoustic media

We predict theoretically the nondiffractive propagation of sonic waves in periodic acoustic media (sonic crystals), by expansion into a set of plane waves (Bloch mode expansion), and by finite difference time domain calculations of finite beams. We also give analytical evaluations of the parameters for nondiffractive propagation, as well as the minimum size of the nondiffractively propagating acoustic beams.

Localized structures in degenerate optical parametric oscillators

Abstract We show spatial localized structures in degenerate optical parametric oscillators. We find numerically stable localized structures in the form of single localized stripes and of a double-stripe form in case of one spatial dimension. In two dimensions rotationally symmetric spots and localized rings are demonstrated.

Extraordinary absorption of sound in porous lamella-crystals

We present the design of a structured material supporting complete absorption of sound with a broadband response and functional for any direction of incident radiation. The structure which is fabricated out of porous lamellas is arranged into a low-density crystal and backed by a reflecting support. Experimental measurements show that strong all-angle sound absorption with almost zero reflectance takes place for a frequency range exceeding two octaves. We demonstrate that lowering the crystal filling fraction increases the wave interaction time and is responsible for the enhancement of intrinsic material dissipation, making the system more absorptive with less material.

Spatial filtering of light by chirped photonic crystals

We propose an efficient method for spatial filtering of light beams by propagating them through two-dimensional (also three dimensional) chirped photonic crystals, i.e., through the photonic structures with fixed transverse lattice period and with the longitudinal lattice period varying along the direction of the beam propagation. We prove the proposed idea by numerically solving the paraxial propagation equation in refraction-index-modulated media and we evaluate the efficiency of the process by harmonic-expansion analysis. The technique can be also applied for filtering (for cleaning) of the packages of atomic waves (Bose condensates), also to improve the directionality of acoustic and mechanical waves.

Enhancement of sound in chirped sonic crystals

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a mechanism of sound wave concentration based on soft reflections in chirped sonic crystals. The reported controlled field enhancement occurs at around particular (bright) planes in the crystal and is related to a progressive slowing down of the sound wave as it propagates along the material. At these bright planes, a substantial concentration of the energy (with a local increase up to 20 times) was obtained for a linear chirp and for frequencies around the first band gap. A simple couple mode theory is proposed that interprets and estimates the observed effects. Wave concentration energy can be applied to increase the efficiency of detectors and absorbers.

Self collimation of ultrasound in a three-dimensional sonic crystal

We present the experimental demonstration of self-collimation (subdiffractive propagation) of an ultrasonic beam inside a three-dimensional (3D) sonic crystal. The crystal is formed by two crossed steel cylinders structures in a woodpilelike geometry disposed in water. Measurements of the 3D field distribution show that a narrow beam, which diffractively spreads in the absence of the sonic crystal, is strongly collimated in propagation inside the crystal, demonstrating the 3D self-collimation effect.

Improvement of the prediction of transmission loss of double partitions with cavity absorption by minimization techniques

In this paper, a method based on the minimization of a quadratic error function is used as a tool to improve the predictions of noise transmission loss, and it is applied to the case of a double partition filled with an absorbent material. When experimental results are available, the method can be used to determine the value of the parameters of the materials composing the structure.

Formation of collimated sound beams by three-dimensional sonic crystals

A theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of sound beams in- and behind three-dimensional sonic crystals at frequencies close to the band edges is presented. An efficient collimation of the beam behind the crystal is predicted and experimentally demonstrated. This effect could allow the design of sources of high spatial quality sound beams.

Elastic waves in phononic monolayer granular membranes

The vibrational properties of out-of-plane elastic waves in hexagonal monolayer granular membranes were studied theoretically. The predicted propagation modes involve an out-of-plane displacement and two rotations with axes in the membrane plane. Shear and bending rigidities at the contact between beads were considered. Both the cases of freely suspended membranes and membranes coupled to a rigid substrate were analyzed. Dispersion relations and the existence of band gaps are presented and discussed for various contact properties. For freely suspended membranes with sufficient contact bending rigidity, it is shown that complete band gaps exist. The results obtained may be of interest for testing with acoustic waves the elasticity of recently developed granular membranes composed of nanoparticles (of interest because of their phoxonic properties) and more generally for the control of designing devices for membrane wave propagation.

Vectorial Kerr-cavity solitons.

It is shown that a Kerr cavity with different losses for the two polarization components of the field can support both dark and bright cavity solitons (CSs). A parametrically driven Ginzburg-Landau equation is shown to describe the system for large-cavity anisotropy. In one transverse dimension the nonlinear dynamics of the bright CSs is numerically investigated.